When Kamala Harris mentioned the line “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” in a speech in 2023, it became a viral meme. However, for many Indians and Indian Americans, the quote carries deeper significance. The reference to coconut trees resonates with Tamil Nadu, the South Indian state from where her mother’s family hails, known for its abundant coconut palms. The phrase also reflects a typical expression that an Indian parent might use.
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, subtly weaves in references to her Indian heritage. She neither hides nor flaunts it but strategically incorporates it into her discourse. Last year, during a luncheon in Washington for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she spoke about her profound connection to India. Harris credited her Indian grandfather from Chennai for instilling in her the values of equality, freedom, and democracy. These early lessons sparked her interest in public service.
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 | This January 1970 photo, provided by the Harris campaign, captures Kamala Harris on the left, with her sister Maya, and their mother, Shyamala Gopalan, outside their apartment in Berkeley, California.
Credit: Kamala Harris campaign, via Associated Press |
